Device for retaining pantyhose in place

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a device for retaining pantyhose in place including a flexible body portion. An upper attachment portion is attached to a top of the flexible body portion and a lower attachment portion is attached to the bottom of the flexible body portion. The upper attachment member is removably attached to a brassiere and the lower attachment is removably attached to a waistband of pantyhose. During attachment, the flexible body portion provides support of the pantyhose to prevent the pantyhose from rolling down. The attachment portions are easily removed when going to the bathroom or removing the pantyhose.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/700,835 filed Jul. 20, 2005, the entirety of which ishereby incorporated by reference into this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a device for retaining pantyhose in place inwhich a flexible support device is attached between a brassiere and thepantyhose.

2. Description of Related Art

A difficulty often arises during the wear of pantyhose is that thepantyhose do not stay in place. Especially for tall and/or shapelywomen, there is a tendency for the band of the pantyhose to roll downduring wear. Thus, the woman wearing the pantyhose is constantlyadjusting the band of the pantyhose by pulling up the band and thepantyhose.

Straps extending from the sides of a brassiere have been used for thepurpose of holding the brassiere in place during wear. U.S. Pat. No.3,077,885 describes a brassiere including sides forming a continuationof respective cups. A halter strap extends around the neck. An elasticstrap extends from the sides to engage the top side edge of a girdle.The structure prevents upward creep of the brassiere.

It is desirable to provide a device for retaining pantyhose in place.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for retaining pantyhose inplace including a flexible body portion. An upper attachment portion isattached to a top of the flexible body portion and a lower attachmentportion is attached to the bottom of the flexible body portion. Theupper attachment member is removably attached to a brassiere and thelower attachment is removably attached to a waistband of pantyhose.During attachment, the flexible body portion provides support of thepantyhose to prevent the pantyhose from rolling down. The attachmentportions are easily removed when going to the bathroom or removing thepantyhose.

The invention will be more fully described by reference to the followingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device for retaining pantyhose inplace in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device connected between a brassiereand a band of the pantyhose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodimentof the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be usedthroughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or likeparts.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device for retaining pantyhose inplace 10 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Body12 includes upper attachment member 14 at top portion 13. Body 12includes lower attachment member 16 at bottom portion 17. Upperattachment member 14 is removably attached to connection 28 between cupsof brassiere 20, as shown in FIG. 2. Lower attachment member 16 isremovably attached to waist band 32 of pantyhose 30.

Body 12 can be formed of a flexible material. For example, body 12 canbe formed of an elastic material. Body 12 can have a predeterminedlength L₁ for accommodating a typical length of the torso betweenbrassiere 20 and pantyhose 30. For example, length L₁ can be of varioussizes to fit small, medium or large sized women. Alternatively, body 12can be adjustable. Body 12 can be adjusted to provide support ofpantyhose 30 without being uncomfortable to the wearer.

Upper attachment member 14 and lower attachment member 16 can be formedof clip portion 40 for attaching to body 12, as shown in FIG. 1. Forexample, clip portion 40 can be formed of metal. Portion 41 of flexibleattachment 42 is coupled to clip portion 40. Portion 43 of flexibleattachment 42 includes knob 44. Knob 44 is received in first opening 46of clip portion 40 and slides into second opening 47 of clip portion 40.Second opening 47 of clip portion 40 has a smaller diameter than firstopening 46 of clip portion 40 for retaining knob 44 within secondopening 47. Connection 18 is received within hook 49 of clip portion 40.For example, clip portion 40 and flexible attachment 42 can be a garterattachment. In an alternate embodiment, flexible attachment 42 can beintegral with body 12.

Upper attachment member 14 is removably attached to connection 28between cups of bra 20, as shown in FIG. 2. Lower attachment member 16is removably attached to waist band 32 of pantyhose 30. Body 12 providessupport of pantyhose 30 and prevents waistband 32 of pantyhose 30 fromrolling down.

It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments areillustrative of only a few of the many possible specific embodiments,which can represent applications of the principles of the invention.Numerous and varied other arrangements can be readily devised inaccordance with these principles by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A device for retaining pantyhose in place comprising: a flexible bodyportion; an upper attachment portion attached to a first end of saidflexible body portion, said upper attachment member being adapted forremovably attaching to a brassiere; and a lower attachment portionattached to a second end of said flexible body portion, said lowerattachment member being adapted for removably attaching to a waistbandof pantyhose.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said upper attachmentmember and said lower attachment member is a garter attachment.
 3. Thedevice of claim 2 wherein said garter attachment comprises: a clipportion and a flexible attachment coupled to said clip portion at afirst end and having a knob, said knob being received in a first openingat a second end of said clip portion and slideable into a second openingat a second end of said flexible attachment of said clip portion.
 4. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein said flexible body portion is formed of anelastic material.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein said flexible bodyportion has a predetermined length L₁ for accommodating a predeterminedlength between said brassiere and said pantyhose.
 6. The device of claim5 wherein said flexible body portion is adjustable.
 7. A method forretaining pantyhose in place comprising: providing a flexible bodyportion, said flexible body portion having an upper attachment portionattached to a first end of said flexible body portion and a lowerattachment member attached to a second end of said flexible bodyportion; removeably attaching said upper attachment portion to aconnection between cups of a brassiere; and removeably attaching saidlower attachment member to a waistband of a pantyhose.
 8. The method ofclaim 6 wherein said upper attachment member and said lower attachmentmember is a garter attachment.
 9. The method of claim 6 wherein saidgarter attachment comprises: a clip portion and a flexible attachmentcoupled to said clip portion at a first end and having a knob, said knobbeing received in a first opening at a second end of said clip portionand slideable into a second opening at a second end of said flexibleattachment of said clip portion.
 10. The method of claim 6 wherein saidflexible body portion is formed of an elastic material.
 11. The methodof claim 6 wherein said flexible body portion has a predetermined lengthL₁ for accommodating a predetermined length between said brassiere andsaid pantyhose.